Cichlocolaptes leucophrus
The Pale-browed Treehunter (*Cichlocolaptes leucophrus*) is a striking medium-sized passerine bird, endemic to the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length and weighing 30-40 grams, it boasts a cryptic plumage of dark olive-brown upperparts contrasting with rufous-brown underparts. Its most distinctive field mark, and the source of its common and scientific names, is a prominent creamy-white supercilium, or 'pale brow,...
This species primarily inhabits subtropical and tropical moist montane and lowland forests, particularly the Atlantic Forest biome, at elevations typically ranging from 400 to 1,800 meters.
The Pale-browed Treehunter feeds predominantly on arthropods, including various insects, their larvae, and spiders, which it gleans and extracts from bark and decaying wood.
The Pale-browed Treehunter is a diurnal and highly active arboreal species, though it is often reclusive and difficult to observe. It employs a specialized foraging strategy, actively gleaning and probing bark, mosses, and epiphytes on tree trunks and larger branches, frequently excavating decayi...
The Pale-browed Treehunter is strictly endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern Brazil, where it is a year-round resident. Its distribution spans coastal and interior mountain ranges, including parts of the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa C...
Near Threatened
- The specific epithet 'leucophrus' is derived from Ancient Greek, meaning 'white-browed,' a direct reference to its most striking field mark. - It is one of the few Furnariids (ovenbirds) that has adopted a foraging style akin to woodpeckers, chiseling into wood to find prey. - Despite its relat...